You may not know who Pierre Curie is unless you have heard of Marie Sklodowska Curie. Pierre Curie is most often associated with his wife Marie Curie, however Pierre Curie has played an important role in many of Marie Curie's discoveries and has become famous for several of his own as well. Pierre Curie was a French physicist who did important research on radioactive substances and piezoelectric effects. [3]Pierre Curie has constructed several pieces of apparatus which assisted him in his work and which are still being used to assist many great physicists in their experiments. Balances, electrometers, and piezoelectric crystals are some examples of his apparatus. "Pierre Curie discovered that the magnetic coefficients of attraction of paramagnetic bodies vary in inverse proportion to the absolute temperature--Curie's Law." [1] Pierre Curie also advanced on theories of symmetry which led him to the discovery of the temperature known as the Curie point. Even though Pierre has conducted many important experiments, one of his most important was the one he shared with his wife, the discovery of polonium and radium, which later on led them to the winning of the Noble Prize in 1903. [5]
Image Courtesy of Nobelprize
Insights and Influences
Pierre Curie was born in Paris, France on May 15, 1859. Pierre Curie was the son of Sophie-Claire Depouilly, daughter of a manufacturer, and of Eugène Curie, a physician. [10] Pierre Curie's father believed Pierre would obtain the best education at home, so he therefore received his pre-university education at home from his father. Pierre curie's father was a physician. At the age of 14, Pierre studied with a mathematics professor and had developed a great interest in mathematics, especially spatial geometry. Pierre Curie began his university studies at the age of 16 and at the age of 18 he received his master's degree. In finishing his studies, Pierre Curie was not able to proceed on to his doctorate degree due to the lack of money. During that time, Pierre Curie worked as a laboratory instructor at the Faculty of Sciences at the Sorbonne instead.
In 1878, Pierre Curie obtained his Licentiateship in Physics and continued working in the physics laboratory until 1882. At that time, Pierre Curie was placed in charge of all the practical work in the Physics and Industrial Chemistry Schools and remained here for 22 years until 1904. In 1895 Pierre Curie obtained his Doctor of Science degree and was appointed Professor of Physics. In 1900 Pierre Curie was raised to Professor in the Faculty of Sciences and in 1904 he became Titular Professor. [7]Pierre Curie, along with his older brother Jacques, made his very first studies and experiments on crystallography. Pierre Curie and Jacques started their investigation the piezoelectric effects and "led by their knowledge of symmetry in crystals, the brothers experimentally discovered the previously unknown phenomenon of piezoelectricity, an electric polarization caused by force applied to the crystal." [10]
In 1880, Pierre Curie and Jacques published the first pages of their discovery. After Pierre Curie and his brother had finished their studies on their discovery, they soon began to do studies on the reverse effect of piezoelectric effects. "The compression of a piezoelectric crystal by an electric field." When doing their studies, Pierre Curie and his brother lacked equipment to finish them. In order to measure the very small amounts of electricity involved, Pierre and Jacques Curie invented a new laboratory apparatus that would assist them in their work. This apparatus they invented was the piezoelectric quartz electrometer, or as it is called now, a balance. This invention has become very useful for many electrical researchers and also became useful in assisting Pierre Curie's wife, Marie Curie, in her studies on radioactivity. [10]
Major Contributions
Pierre Curie has made many important contributions to the world of science. Despite that fact, Most of the contributions have been overtaken by the fame of his wife because she outlived him. Together with his brother, Pierre Curie discovered piezoelectricity, "a phenomenon that enabled the development of the piezoelectrometer." [6] A piezoelectric is an effect in which crystals receive a charge when compressed or twisted. The word "piezo" comes from Greek meaning to squeeze or press. When doing their studies, Pierre Curie and his brother lacked equipment to finish them. In order to measure the very small amounts of electricity involved, Pierre and Jacques Curie invented a new laboratory apparatus that would assist them in their work. The first application made for the piezoelectricity discovery was in a sonar piezoelectric device. The discovery of piezoelectricity plays a big role in science because it has made possible the many new instrumentation which provide accurate measures of dynamic changes in mechanical variables such as pressure, force, and acceleration. This apparatus they invented was the piezoelectric quartz electrometer, or as it is called now, a balance. This invention has become very useful for many electrical researchers and also became useful in assisting Pierre Curie's wife, Marie Curie, in her later studies on radioactivity.
Pierre Curie also discovered the Curie point, or Curie temperature, of ferromagnetic material. "The Curie point is the temperature above which the material loses its characteristic ferromagnetic properties. In an analogy to ferromagnetism, the Curie point is also used to describe the temperature above which piezoelectric materials lose their spontaneous polarization and piezoelectric properties" In 1880 through 1895, Pierre continued researching for further information in crystal symmetry, piezoelectricity, and the Curie point. [6]
In the year of 1898, Pierre Curie quit his research and experimentation on piezoelectricity so he could fully immerse himself in his new studies
Image Courtesy of APS Physics
accompanied with his wife Marie Curie. [2]This collaboration led to the great discovery of polonium and radium. "It is possible to conceive that, in criminal hands, radium might prove very dangerous, and the question therefore arises whether it be to the advantage of humanity to know the secrets of nature, whether we will be sufficiently mature to profit by them, or whether that knowledge may not prove harmful. Take for instance the discoveries of Nobel: Powerful explosives have made it possible to achieve admirable things, but they are also a terrible means of destruction in the hands of those great criminals who draw nations into war. I am among those who believe with Nobel that humanity will obtain more good than evil from future discoveries." [6]
While working together on polonium and radium, Pierre and Marie Curie divided the work between the two. Pierre Curie was in charge of investigating the properties of radium, while Marie Curie initiated chemical experiments to prepare pure compounds. In doing his investigation, Pierre Curie and one of his former students discovered that radium emits heat. In fact, Pierre Curie even exposed himself to radiation to observe the reaction effects of radium. Even though Pierre Curie exposed himself to radiation and other harmful substances, his dedication led him to some of the most important contributions in the world of science. [4]
Affect and Effect
Most of Pierre Curie's experiments and discoveries were done in collaboration with someone else. Without the assistance of these people, Pierre Curie would have most likely not accomplished his goals. Pierre Curie's first work was done in collaboration with Desains, director of the University laboratory. Their studies "concerned the determination of the lengths of heat waves with the aid of a thermo-electric element and a metallic-wire grating, a process, then entirely new, which has since often been employed in the study of this question." [9] Soon after this, Pierre Curie began an investigation on the symmetry of crystals. In the investigation on the symmetry of crystals, Pierre Curie worked together with his brother Jacques Curie, prepator for Friedel in the laboratory of mineralogy in Sorbonne. Further experimentation and research on this investigation led Pierre Curie and his brother to the successful discovery of piezoelectricity. Pierre and Jacques Curie's new discovery was so intriguing that other very well-known scientists such as Roentgen, Kundt, Voigt, and Riecke began further investigations along this discovery. Pierre Curie was also greatly influenced by his students and professors in the School of Physics and Chemistry. "I desire to recall here that we have made all our investigations in the School of Physics and Chemistry of the city of Paris. In all creative scientific work the influence of the surroundings in which one works is of great importance, and a part of the result is due to that influence. For more than twenty years I have worked in the School of Physics and Chemistry. Schützenberger, the first director of the School, was an eminent scientist. I remember with gratitude that he procured for me opportunities for my own investigations when I was yet but an assistant. Later, he permitted Madame Curie to work beside me, an authorization which was at that time far from an ordinary innovation." [9]
"Schützenberger allowed us all great liberty; his direction made itself felt chiefly through his inspiring love of science. The professors of the School of Physics and Chemistry, and the students who have gone from it, have created a kindly and stimulating atmosphere that has been extremely helpful to me. It is among the old students of the school that we have found our collaborators and our friends. I am happy to be able, here, to thank them all." Even though the people mentioned above were of great influence to Pierre Curie, the one that truly inspired him the most was his wife Marie Curie. Pierre Curie even put aside his former investigations to assist Marie Curie in her experiments on radium and polonium. Their experiments on radium and polonium supplied them with abundant knowledge of radioactivity. "He had dedicated his life to his dream of science: he felt the need of a companion who could live his dream with him. He told me many times that the reason he had not married until he was thirty-six was because he did not believe in the possibility of a marriage which would meet this, his absolute necessity. " [9]
The Things he Left behind
During the course of his life, Pierre Curie made several contributions to the world of science for which he is best remembered for. One of these contributions was the discovery of polonium and radium in which his wife Marie Curie and Henri Becquerel also took part in. Their discovery of polonium and radium led them to vast knowledge of nuclear radioactivity, thus resulting in further advancements in the world of science. Pierre Curie and his wife Marie Curie were the first to use the term "radioactivity" and were experts in this field. In their work on polonium and radium,Pierre and Marie Curie made used of Pierre's electrometer, which was an apparatus constructed by Pierre and his brother Jacques Curie in their prior studies 15 years ago on piezoelectric effects. [8]Together with one of his former students, Pierre Curie made the first discovery of nuclear energy. "He also investigated the radiation emissions of radioactive substances, and through the use of magnetic fields was able to show that some of the emissions were positively charged, some were negative and some were neutral. These correspond to alpha, beta, and gamma radiation." [11]
During his studies on pieozoelectric effects, Pierre Curie demonstrated "that an electric potential was generated when crystals were compressed." [7] Almost all "digital electronic circuits now rely on this phenomenon in the form of crystal oscillators." Pierre Curie also invented the torsion balance which helped in measuring magnetice coefficients. Pierre Curie also studied paramagnetism, ferromagnetism, and diamagnetism. While on these studies, Pierre Curie discovered "the effect of temperature on paramagnetism," which is now know as Curie's Law. [7]
Pierre Curie was not only a physicist but an inventor as well. During his experiments and studies he was able to invent new apparatus that have developed throughout the years to assist great physicists of the time. Not only did Pierre Curie leave us his apparatus but a generation too. Pierre Curie had two daughters. One of them, Irene Joliot-Curie, continued in the field of science and the other, Eve Curie who became a French-American author. Irene Joliot-curie took on the passion for science like her mother and father and became a physicist as well. Both her and her husband Frederic Joliot-Curie bacame involved in the study of radioactivity. Further extended, Pierre Curie and Marie Curie's granddaughter Helene Langevin-Joliot became a professor of nuclear physics and now teaches at the University of Paris. Pierre Curie and Marie Curie's grandson Pierre Joliot is now a biochemist.[4]
Table of Contents
Pierre Curie
You may not know who Pierre Curie is unless you have heard of Marie Sklodowska Curie. Pierre Curie is most often associated with his wife Marie Curie, however Pierre Curie has played an important role in many of Marie Curie's discoveries and has become famous for several of his own as well. Pierre Curie was a French physicist who did important research on radioactive substances and piezoelectric effects. [3]Pierre Curie has constructed several pieces of apparatus which assisted him in his work and which are still being used to assist many great physicists in their experiments. Balances, electrometers, and piezoelectric crystals are some examples of his apparatus. "Pierre Curie discovered that the magnetic coefficients of attraction of paramagnetic bodies vary in inverse proportion to the absolute temperature--Curie's Law." [1] Pierre Curie also advanced on theories of symmetry which led him to the discovery of the temperature known as the Curie point. Even though Pierre has conducted many important experiments, one of his most important was the one he shared with his wife, the discovery of polonium and radium, which later on led them to the winning of the Noble Prize in 1903. [5]
Insights and Influences
Pierre Curie was born in Paris, France on May 15, 1859. Pierre Curie was the son of Sophie-Claire Depouilly, daughter of a manufacturer, and of Eugène Curie, a physician. [10] Pierre Curie's father believed Pierre would obtain the best education at home, so he therefore received his pre-university education at home from his father. Pierre curie's father was a physician. At the age of 14, Pierre studied with a mathematics professor and had developed a great interest in mathematics, especially spatial geometry. Pierre Curie began his university studies at the age of 16 and at the age of 18 he received his master's degree. In finishing his studies, Pierre Curie was not able to proceed on to his doctorate degree due to the lack of money. During that time, Pierre Curie worked as a laboratory instructor at the Faculty of Sciences at the Sorbonne instead.
In 1878, Pierre Curie obtained his Licentiateship in Physics and continued working in the physics laboratory until 1882. At that time, Pierre Curie was placed in charge of all the practical work in the Physics and Industrial Chemistry Schools and remained here for 22 years until 1904. In 1895 Pierre Curie obtained his Doctor of Science degree and was appointed Professor of Physics. In 1900 Pierre Curie was raised to Professor in the Faculty of Sciences and in 1904 he became Titular Professor. [7]Pierre Curie, along with his older brother Jacques, made his very first studies and experiments on crystallography. Pierre Curie and Jacques started their investigation the piezoelectric effects and "led by their knowledge of symmetry in crystals, the brothers experimentally discovered the previously unknown phenomenon of piezoelectricity, an electric polarization caused by force applied to the crystal." [10]
In 1880, Pierre Curie and Jacques published the first pages of their discovery. After Pierre Curie and his brother had finished their studies on their discovery, they soon began to do studies on the reverse effect of piezoelectric effects. "The compression of a piezoelectric crystal by an electric field." When doing their studies, Pierre Curie and his brother lacked equipment to finish them. In order to measure the very small amounts of electricity involved, Pierre and Jacques Curie invented a new laboratory apparatus that would assist them in their work. This apparatus they invented was the piezoelectric quartz electrometer, or as it is called now, a balance. This invention has become very useful for many electrical researchers and also became useful in assisting Pierre Curie's wife, Marie Curie, in her studies on radioactivity. [10]
Major Contributions
Pierre Curie has made many important contributions to the world of science. Despite that fact, Most of the contributions have been overtaken by the fame of his wife because she outlived him. Together with his brother, Pierre Curie discovered piezoelectricity, "a phenomenon that enabled the development of the piezoelectrometer." [6] A piezoelectric is an effect in which crystals receive a charge when compressed or twisted. The word "piezo" comes from Greek meaning to squeeze or press. When doing their studies, Pierre Curie and his brother lacked equipment to finish them. In order to measure the very small amounts of electricity involved, Pierre and Jacques Curie invented a new laboratory apparatus that would assist them in their work. The first application made for the piezoelectricity discovery was in a sonar piezoelectric device. The discovery of piezoelectricity plays a big role in science because it has made possible the many new instrumentation which provide accurate measures of dynamic changes in mechanical variables such as pressure, force, and acceleration. This apparatus they invented was the piezoelectric quartz electrometer, or as it is called now, a balance. This invention has become very useful for many electrical researchers and also became useful in assisting Pierre Curie's wife, Marie Curie, in her later studies on radioactivity.
Pierre Curie also discovered the Curie point, or Curie temperature, of ferromagnetic material. "The Curie point is the temperature above which the material loses its characteristic ferromagnetic properties. In an analogy to ferromagnetism, the Curie point is also used to describe the temperature above which piezoelectric materials lose their spontaneous polarization and piezoelectric properties" In 1880 through 1895, Pierre continued researching for further information in crystal symmetry, piezoelectricity, and the Curie point. [6]
In the year of 1898, Pierre Curie quit his research and experimentation on piezoelectricity so he could fully immerse himself in his new studies
While working together on polonium and radium, Pierre and Marie Curie divided the work between the two. Pierre Curie was in charge of investigating the properties of radium, while Marie Curie initiated chemical experiments to prepare pure compounds. In doing his investigation, Pierre Curie and one of his former students discovered that radium emits heat. In fact, Pierre Curie even exposed himself to radiation to observe the reaction effects of radium. Even though Pierre Curie exposed himself to radiation and other harmful substances, his dedication led him to some of the most important contributions in the world of science. [4]
Affect and Effect
Most of Pierre Curie's experiments and discoveries were done in collaboration with someone else. Without the assistance of these people, Pierre Curie would have most likely not accomplished his goals. Pierre Curie's first work was done in collaboration with Desains, director of the University laboratory. Their studies "concerned the determination of the lengths of heat waves with the aid of a thermo-electric element and a metallic-wire grating, a process, then entirely new, which has since often been employed in the study of this question." [9] Soon after this, Pierre Curie began an investigation on the symmetry of crystals. In the investigation on the symmetry of crystals, Pierre Curie worked together with his brother Jacques Curie, prepator for Friedel in the laboratory of mineralogy in Sorbonne. Further experimentation and research on this investigation led Pierre Curie and his brother to the successful discovery of piezoelectricity. Pierre and Jacques Curie's new discovery was so intriguing that other very well-known scientists such as Roentgen, Kundt, Voigt, and Riecke began further investigations along this discovery. Pierre Curie was also greatly influenced by his students and professors in the School of Physics and Chemistry. "I desire to recall here that we have made all our investigations in the School of Physics and Chemistry of the city of Paris. In all creative scientific work the influence of the surroundings in which one works is of great importance, and a part of the result is due to that influence. For more than twenty years I have worked in the School of Physics and Chemistry. Schützenberger, the first director of the School, was an eminent scientist. I remember with gratitude that he procured for me opportunities for my own investigations when I was yet but an assistant. Later, he permitted Madame Curie to work beside me, an authorization which was at that time far from an ordinary innovation." [9]
"Schützenberger allowed us all great liberty; his direction made itself felt chiefly through his inspiring love of science. The professors of the School of Physics and Chemistry, and the students who have gone from it, have created a kindly and stimulating atmosphere that has been extremely helpful to me. It is among the old students of the school that we have found our collaborators and our friends. I am happy to be able, here, to thank them all." Even though the people mentioned above were of great influence to Pierre Curie, the one that truly inspired him the most was his wife Marie Curie. Pierre Curie even put aside his former investigations to assist Marie Curie in her experiments on radium and polonium. Their experiments on radium and polonium supplied them with abundant knowledge of radioactivity. "He had dedicated his life to his dream of science: he felt the need of a companion who could live his dream with him. He told me many times that the reason he had not married until he was thirty-six was because he did not believe in the possibility of a marriage which would meet this, his absolute necessity. " [9]
The Things he Left behind
During the course of his life, Pierre Curie made several contributions to the world of science for which he is best remembered for. One of these contributions was the discovery of polonium and radium in which his wife Marie Curie and Henri Becquerel also took part in. Their discovery of polonium and radium led them to vast knowledge of nuclear radioactivity, thus resulting in further advancements in the world of science. Pierre Curie and his wife Marie Curie were the first to use the term "radioactivity" and were experts in this field. In their work on polonium and radium,Pierre and Marie Curie made used of Pierre's electrometer, which was an apparatus constructed by Pierre and his brother Jacques Curie in their prior studies 15 years ago on piezoelectric effects. [8]Together with one of his former students, Pierre Curie made the first discovery of nuclear energy. "He also investigated the radiation emissions of radioactive substances, and through the use of magnetic fields was able to show that some of the emissions were positively charged, some were negative and some were neutral. These correspond to alpha, beta, and gamma radiation." [11]
During his studies on pieozoelectric effects, Pierre Curie demonstrated "that an electric potential was generated when crystals were compressed." [7] Almost all "digital electronic circuits now rely on this phenomenon in the form of crystal oscillators." Pierre Curie also invented the torsion balance which helped in measuring magnetice coefficients. Pierre Curie also studied paramagnetism, ferromagnetism, and diamagnetism. While on these studies, Pierre Curie discovered "the effect of temperature on paramagnetism," which is now know as Curie's Law. [7]
Pierre Curie was not only a physicist but an inventor as well. During his experiments and studies he was able to invent new apparatus that have developed throughout the years to assist great physicists of the time. Not only did Pierre Curie leave us his apparatus but a generation too. Pierre Curie had two daughters. One of them, Irene Joliot-Curie, continued in the field of science and the other, Eve Curie who became a French-American author. Irene Joliot-curie took on the passion for science like her mother and father and became a physicist as well. Both her and her husband Frederic Joliot-Curie bacame involved in the study of radioactivity. Further extended, Pierre Curie and Marie Curie's granddaughter Helene Langevin-Joliot became a professor of nuclear physics and now teaches at the University of Paris. Pierre Curie and Marie Curie's grandson Pierre Joliot is now a biochemist.[4]
References
1.http://www.ob-ultrasound.net/curie.html
2.http://www.nobel-winners.com/Physics/pierre_curie.html
3.http://www.faqs.org/health/bios/83/Pierre-Curie.html
4.http://www.aip.org/history/curie/pierre.htm
5.http://nobelprize.org/nobel_prizes/physics/laureates/1903/pierre-curie-bio.html
6.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1891197/
7http://www.atomicarchive.com/Bios/PierreCurie.shtml
8http://www.aboutnuclear.org/view.cgi?fC=History,Hall_of_Fame,Marie_and_Pierre_Curie
9http://etext.virginia.edu/etcbin/toccer-new2?id=CurPier.sgm&images=images/modeng&data=/texts/english/modeng/parsed&tag=public&part=2&division=div2
10http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1G2-3404701606.html
11 http://www.electro.patent-invent.com/electricity/inventors/pierre_curie.html